Hybrid Vehicle Mode Replanning Threshold Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid vehicles experience discomfort due to mid-route replanning of traveling modes based on battery remaining amount and energy balance, leading to unnecessary changes in driving modes.

Innovation Solution

A moving assist apparatus and method that replans traveling modes for hybrid vehicles with internal combustion engines and electric motors, prioritizing mode changes when the remaining distance or time of a section is less than a threshold, using assumed traveling loads to minimize mode switches and optimize route planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the traveling mode is replanned based on battery remaining amount and energy balance, then the battery charge storage amount is optimized, but the driver experiences discomfort due to mid-route mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery charge storage optimizationVSAvoiddriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by pre-defining threshold values for remaining distance and remaining time before replanning occurs. When replanning is triggered, the system checks these thresholds first to prevent mode changes that would cause driver discomfort. This anticipatory approach blocks harmful mode switches before they occur, maintaining both battery optimization and driver comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the traveling mode is changed halfway in a traveling section, then the energy balance is adjusted, but the driver feels discomfort due to unnecessary mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy balance adjustmentVSAvoiddriver comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system prevents harmful mid-section mode changes by checking remaining distance and time thresholds before executing replanning. This preliminary check blocks mode changes that would occur halfway through a section, eliminating the harmful effect on driver comfort while preserving necessary energy balance adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by calculating and storing threshold values for remaining distance and time in advance. These pre-computed thresholds are used during replanning to determine whether mode changes should be suppressed, allowing the system to make quick decisions without complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the traveling mode is replanned frequently, then the battery management is optimized, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery management optimizationVSAvoidreplanning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by using threshold values for remaining distance and remaining time as control parameters. Instead of complex optimization algorithms, the system simply compares current values against pre-defined thresholds to decide whether to suppress replanning. This parameter-based approach simplifies the system while maintaining effective battery management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3110671B1Moving assist apparatus and method and driving assist system
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3110671B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3110671B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3110671B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A moving assist apparatus assists a vehicle which includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as a driving source to move from a current position to a destination. The moving assist apparatus includes a planning unit configured to, for each section obtained by dividing a traveling route from the current position to the destination, plan one traveling mode from a EV mode of not maintaining a charge storage amount of a battery and a HV mode of maintaining the charge storage amount of the battery, based on a traveling load associated with the section. The planning unit is configured to replan the traveling mode under a predetermined condition, and when the predetermined condition is satisfied, when a remaining distance of the section on which the vehicle is traveling is less than a threshold a, to replan a current 'traveling mode to be the traveling mode in priority.