Hybrid Vehicle Operating State Visualization Method

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Hybrid vehicle users lack the ability to efficiently determine and compare operating modes, which hinders informed decision-making about economical or consumption-optimized operation.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine and display the proportions of different operating states of a hybrid vehicle over time, allowing users to visualize and compare these states on a vehicle display, enabling conclusions about efficiency and driving profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the hybrid vehicle automatically selects and switches between operating modes, then the user experience is improved (imperceptible switching), but the user loses the ability to be informed about the various operating modes and their efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidinformation about operating modes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by displaying operating mode information to the user through a display device. The control unit determines which operating mode is currently active and presents this information to the driver, enabling informed decision-making while the automatic switching continues to operate imperceptibly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary system is introduced between the automatic control unit and the user. This intermediary (display device and control logic) translates the internal operating state into user-comprehensible information, allowing the user to be informed without interfering with the automatic mode selection process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If operating state determination and display is added to the hybrid vehicle, then user information about efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation about operating modesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed to serve multiple functions: it both controls the hybrid vehicle's operating modes and determines which mode is active for display purposes. This multi-functionality avoids adding a separate dedicated determination system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The operating mode determination function is merged with the existing control unit that manages hybrid vehicle operations. By combining these functions in a single control unit, the system avoids the complexity of separate determination and control systems working in parallel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If operating states are determined over a period of time with cumulation and averaging, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating state determination accuracyVSAvoidtime for data processing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by determining operating modes over a defined period rather than continuously processing every moment. This time-windowed approach provides sufficient accuracy for evaluating driving profiles without requiring exhaustive real-time analysis of every operating state transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2296953B1Method for determining at least one operating state of a hybrid vehicle, and hybrid vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2296953B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2296953B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2296953B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is indicated for determining at least one operating state of a hybrid vehicle, in which the at least one operating state is determined over at least one period of time. Furthermore, a hybrid vehicle having a unit for carrying out the method is proposed.