Hybrid Vehicle Controller Optimizing Power Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid electric vehicles using the transmission mounted electric device (TMED) method face limitations in fuel economy and energy efficiency due to the reliance on state of charge (SOC) alone for power distribution, leading to inefficient mode transitions and neglect of user driving behavior.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control method that collects and analyzes various status information, including battery SOC, load information, and user input, to determine an equivalence factor, calculating energy consumption amounts for both battery and engine, and adjusts the engine clutch operation mode to minimize energy consumption between EV and HEV modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ECMS logic is used considering only battery SOC for power distribution, then the control system is simple to implement, but fuel economy is insufficient and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces multiple new parameters beyond battery SOC, including equivalence factor, battery energy consumption amount, engine energy consumption amount, and operation mode energy consumption amounts. These parameter changes enable more comprehensive power distribution optimization, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and fuel economy by adding necessary complexity only where it directly impacts energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously calculates energy consumption amounts for different operation modes based on current vehicle status, compares these amounts, and adjusts power distribution accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system optimizes fuel economy dynamically while maintaining manageable control complexity through systematic decision-making.
2Device complexity
If ECMS logic is used considering only battery SOC for power distribution, then the control algorithm is simple, but energy consumption is not minimized effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the control approach by introducing the equivalence factor and calculating multiple energy consumption amounts corresponding to different operation modes. This parameter expansion enables the system to evaluate and select the most energy-efficient mode dynamically, effectively minimizing energy consumption while maintaining structured algorithm complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the power distribution strategy dynamic by continuously calculating energy consumption amounts for EV mode, HEV mode, and other operation modes based on real-time vehicle status, then selecting the mode with minimum energy consumption. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to respond optimally to changing driving conditions, minimizing energy loss.
3Speed
If mode transitions are frequent without considering user driving behavior, then the system can respond quickly to changing conditions, but engine wear increases from frequent mode changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates user driving behavior as feedback into the mode selection process. The controller considers acceleration pedal degree, vehicle speed, and other driver inputs when determining operation mode transitions. This feedback mechanism filters out unnecessary mode changes, reducing engine wear while maintaining appropriate responsiveness to genuine driving condition changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple operation modes before executing mode transitions. By calculating energy consumption amounts for all possible modes in advance and comparing them, the system can select the optimal mode proactively, avoiding frequent unnecessary transitions that would increase engine wear while still responding quickly when transitions are truly necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle is provided to include an engine, a motor operating with electrical energy of a battery, an engine clutch for switching between an operation mode including an EV mode for transferring power generated by the motor to wheels and an HEV mode for transferring power generated by the engine and the motor to the wheels, and a controller. The controller collects status information from the motor and the engine, determines an equivalence factor based on status information of the battery and load information using electrical energy of the battery and determines an operation mode in which energy consumption is minimized among a plurality of energy consumption amounts calculated based on the determined equivalent factor and the modes of the engine clutch.