Hybrid Vehicle Mode Switching Threshold Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles struggle to optimize fuel efficiency and match driving performance to individual driver preferences, as existing systems uniformly change engine start/stop thresholds based on inferred traveling conditions without considering driver-specific characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid vehicle system that learns and adapts to each driver's characteristics by switching between EV and HV modes, adjusting the threshold values for mode switching based on the driver's settings and real-time driving conditions, such as acceleration and deceleration, using a navigation apparatus to determine curve degrees and adjust the range of operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a uniform threshold value for engine start/stop is used for all drivers, then the control system is simple, but it cannot match individual driver preferences for acceleration or fuel economy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uniform control approach into driver-specific control by dividing drivers into different groups (acceleration-preferring drivers and fuel economy-preferring drivers) based on their accelerator pedal operation characteristics. This allows the system to apply different threshold values tailored to each driver's preferences, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity by creating manageable segments rather than a completely personalized complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the threshold parameter for engine start/stop based on driver characteristics. By detecting accelerator pedal opening degrees and identifying driver patterns, the system dynamically adjusts the threshold value parameter to match either acceleration performance or fuel economy priorities, thereby achieving adaptability through parameter modification rather than complete system redesign.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is stopped frequently to improve fuel efficiency, then fuel consumption decreases, but acceleration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the engine start/stop threshold flexible rather than fixed. The threshold dynamically adjusts based on detected driver characteristics - becoming more aggressive (lower threshold) for acceleration-preferring drivers and more conservative (higher threshold) for fuel economy-preferring drivers. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize for either fuel efficiency or acceleration response depending on driver preferences, resolving the contradiction between these two performance aspects.
Data Source
AI summary
When curve determine signal from a navigation apparatus is activated, a learning portion learns driver's characteristics based on an accelerator pedal opening degree signal, and outputs the result of learning in association with a user ID from the navigation apparatus to a storage portion. A threshold value changing portion reads a learned value corresponding to the user ID from the storage portion, and based on the learned value, changes a threshold value for switching that is used by a traveling control portion. The traveling control portion switches between traveling modes based on a result of comparison between traveling power and the threshold value for switching.