Idling Stop Control Using Object Type Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing idling stop control systems for vehicles frequently misinterpret moving objects as preceding vehicles, leading to unnecessary engine restarts, which hampers fuel economy and annoys drivers.
Innovation Solution
An idling stop control system that uses a front information recognition unit to identify objects in front of the vehicle and a second restart determination unit to decide on engine restarts based on object type, preventing unnecessary engine restarts by distinguishing between pedestrians, motorcycles, and four-wheel vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the idling control system automatically restarts the engine when the preceding vehicle starts to move, then the vehicle can respond to traffic flow changes, but the engine may be unnecessarily restarted when moving objects (pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles) are misidentified as preceding vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an object recognition unit as an intermediary component that accurately identifies the type of object in front of the vehicle (pedestrian, bicycle, motorcycle, or four-wheel vehicle). This intermediary unit mediates between the distance/speed detection and the engine restart decision, ensuring that only genuine preceding vehicles trigger engine restart, thereby resolving the misidentification problem while maintaining traffic flow responsiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the decision parameter from simple distance/speed changes to object type classification. By incorporating object type as a critical parameter in the restart decision logic, the system distinguishes between legitimate preceding vehicles and other moving objects, preventing false engine restarts while maintaining accurate response to actual traffic conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the engine is frequently restarted due to misidentification of moving objects, then the system attempts to maintain traffic responsiveness, but fuel economy deteriorates and driver annoyance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The object recognition unit serves as a filtering intermediary that prevents false traffic responsiveness triggers. By accurately identifying object types before triggering engine restart, it eliminates unnecessary restarts caused by pedestrians, bicycles, or motorcycles being misidentified as vehicles, thereby preserving fuel economy while maintaining genuine traffic responsiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from the object recognition unit to the engine control unit, creating a verification loop. The recognition feedback confirms whether detected movement corresponds to a legitimate preceding vehicle before authorizing engine restart, reducing spurious restarts and improving overall system efficiency and fuel economy
Data Source
AI summary
An idling stop control system stops an idling of an engine so as to automatically stop the engine in the case where a predetermined condition on automatic stop of the engine is established and releases the automatic stop of the engine so as to restart the engine in the case where a predetermined condition on restart of the engine is established in accordance with a driving condition of the vehicle. The idling stop control system recognizes a type of an object in front of the vehicle and restarts the engine depending on the type of the object in front of the vehicle even if the engine is in the automatic stop and the restart condition of the engine is not established with respect to the driving condition.