Hybrid Vehicle Driving Mode Control for Heating Cycle Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional approaches to heating in electrified vehicles, particularly hybrid electric vehicles, lead to frequent conversions of driving modes when outside temperatures are low, resulting in frequent alarms that distract the driver and cause inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling the driving mode of a hybrid electric vehicle, where the engine start is controlled based on the cycle of engine start requests for heating, allowing the engine to remain started for a determined period after a request is cancelled, thereby adjusting the cycle of driving mode conversions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the driving mode is forcibly converted to HEV mode when cooling water temperature is low, then heating function is improved, but the driving mode conversion frequency increases causing driver distraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling water temperatureVSAvoiddriver convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating by forcing conversion to HEV mode before the driver would need heating, maintaining cooling water temperature above threshold. This prevents frequent conversions by proactively managing temperature rather than reactively responding to each temperature drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the driving mode conversion strategy based on the cycle frequency of temperature-based conversion requests. When conversions occur too frequently within a threshold period, the system modifies its behavior to reduce conversion frequency, balancing heating needs with driver convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If the engine is started frequently to heat cooling water, then heating function is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling water temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary heating by forcing conversion to HEV mode before the driver would need heating, maintaining cooling water temperature above threshold. This prevents frequent conversions by proactively managing temperature rather than reactively responding to each temperature drop.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a threshold period that limits how frequently driving mode conversions can occur. By enforcing periodic constraints on conversion frequency, the system reduces unnecessary engine starts and energy consumption while still providing heating when genuinely needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of information

If the driving mode conversion alarm is provided frequently, then driver information is improved, but driver distraction increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver informationVSAvoiddriver convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the driving mode conversion strategy based on the cycle frequency of temperature-based conversion requests. When conversions occur too frequently within a threshold period, the system modifies its behavior to reduce conversion frequency, balancing heating needs with driver convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12202467B2Hybrid electric vehicle and driving mode control method and apparatus for same

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a hybrid electric vehicle and driving mode control method and apparatus for the same. An engine start request is generated by a heating controller of the vehicle. A second time is determined on basis of a first time between the cancellation of a prevent engine start request and the generation of the engine start request. The engine is controlled so that the engine is further maintained in a started state during the second time after the engine start request is cancelled.