Hybrid Engine Stop/Start Control for Battery Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine stop/start systems in hybrid vehicles face inefficiencies due to repeated engine restarts in stop-and-go situations, which lead to excessive battery drain and power loss, especially when the vehicle is temporarily stopped on hills or requires power steering, heating, or HVAC during idling.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes an engine stop/start module communicably coupled with internal and external information modules to determine upcoming turns, power steering requirements, and dynamic conditions, selectively enabling or disabling the engine stop/start function based on internal vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information to minimize power loss and battery drain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine stop/start function is enabled during temporary stops, then fuel economy is improved by avoiding engine idling, but battery life is negatively affected due to excessive battery drain from repeated restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the stop/start function based on real-time driving conditions. The controller monitors stop duration, vehicle speed, and driving patterns to determine whether to enable or disable the stop/start function, making the system adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors and controllers to monitor battery state of charge, stop duration, and driving conditions. This feedback loop allows the system to make informed decisions about when to activate or deactivate the stop/start function to optimize both fuel economy and battery protection.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is shut down during hill hold situations, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the battery alone must provide torque to hold the vehicle, negatively affecting battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects hill hold situations in advance using GPS data, road gradient information, and vehicle sensor data. When an upcoming hill is detected, the controller prepares by disabling the stop/start function before the vehicle reaches the hill, preventing the battery from being overcharged during critical hill hold situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the stop/start system and the hill hold detection system. It integrates information from multiple sources (GPS, accelerometers, road gradient data) to make informed decisions about when to disable the stop/start function during hill hold situations.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the stop/start function is used during short stop-and-go situations, then fuel economy improves, but repeated engine restarts cause excess battery drain
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically evaluates stop duration and driving patterns to determine whether the stop/start function should be active. For short stops typical of stop-and-go traffic, the system disables the function to prevent excessive battery drain from frequent restarts, while enabling it for longer stops where fuel savings justify the restart.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for receiving internal information, external static information, and external dynamic information of a hybrid vehicle, and selectively enable or disable a stop/start function for the engine of the hybrid vehicle based on the internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information. The stop/start function controls selective activation and deactivation of the engine during operation of the hybrid vehicle.