Idling Stop Device with Dynamic Speed Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional idling stop devices uniformly set the vehicle speed for starting idling stop, leading to suboptimal idling stop timing, which affects fuel economy and drivability, especially in varying external environments.
Innovation Solution
An idling stop device that includes an external environment recognition unit and an idling-stop start speed setting unit, which sets the vehicle speed for starting idling stop based on recognized external environment conditions, allowing for optimal idling stop timing by stopping the engine when the vehicle speed reduces below the set speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the vehicle speed for starting idling stop is uniformly set, then the control logic is simple, but the fuel economy and drivability are suboptimal in varying external environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the idling stop start speed variable rather than fixed. The speed threshold is dynamically adjusted based on external environment recognition (traffic light color, queue length, preceding vehicle behavior), allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize fuel economy in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of idling stop start speed from a constant value to a variable that depends on external environment parameters. By monitoring traffic light color, queue length, and preceding vehicle acceleration patterns, the system adjusts the speed threshold parameter to achieve optimal fuel economy under different traffic conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the engine is stopped uniformly when the vehicle stops, then the control is simple, but the drivability and fuel economy are compromised when early re-acceleration is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting external environment cues (such as traffic light color changes to green, short queue lengths, or preceding vehicle acceleration) before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. When these cues indicate that early re-acceleration will be needed, the system keeps the engine running, preventing the drivability issues that would arise from uniform engine stopping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from external environment recognition (traffic light color, queue length, preceding vehicle behavior) to continuously adjust the idling stop control decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to respond to changing traffic conditions and maintain optimal drivability by preventing engine stop when early re-acceleration is anticipated.
3Device complexity
If the idling stop condition is uniformly determined, then the device complexity is low, but the optimum idling stop timing cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a single external environment recognition unit to perform multiple functions: detecting traffic light color, estimating queue length, and monitoring preceding vehicle behavior. This multi-functional approach allows the system to optimize fuel economy through comprehensive environmental awareness without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the idling stop control by introducing external environment-based variables. Instead of using a fixed speed threshold, the system adjusts the start speed parameter based on recognized environmental parameters, enabling optimal fuel economy achievement through adaptive parameter modification.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an idling stop device. An ECU sets a lighting color index by recognizing a lighting color of a traffic light in front of a vehicle based upon external environment captured by an onboard camera, sets a distance index based upon a distance between the traffic light and a vehicle just in front of the vehicle, and sets a brake index based upon whether a brake lamp of the vehicle just in front of the vehicle is turned on or not. The ECU adds up these indices to obtain an ISS general index, sets a basic ISS speed based upon the ISS general index, and sets an ISS start speed based upon the basic ISS speed and a mode-based coefficient set based upon an engine mode.