Kickdown Control Under Active Vehicle Speed Limiter Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Speed limiters in motor vehicles restrict vehicle speed, making requests for increased power from the powertrain unnecessary and inefficient, leading to increased noise and reduced fuel efficiency when attempting to exceed the speed limit.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that recognize active speed limiters and predefined speed thresholds, altering the response to the kickdown switch activation to avoid unnecessary power increases, allowing tailored actions based on vehicle conditions and driver-defined triggering conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the kickdown switch is activated to request increased maximum power from the powertrain, then the vehicle can be accelerated faster, but when the vehicle speed is limited by a speed limiter, this leads to additional noise and reduced fuel efficiency without increasing vehicle speed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the response to kickdown switch activation based on real-time conditions. When a speed limiter is detected and the current speed exceeds the threshold, the system modifies the default action to prevent unnecessary power increases. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize fuel efficiency by avoiding power requests that would not result in speed increases, while still maintaining the capability for rapid acceleration when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from the speed limiter status and current vehicle speed to determine the appropriate response to kickdown switch activation. By continuously monitoring whether the current speed exceeds the threshold and whether a speed limiter is active, the system can make informed decisions about whether to honor the power increase request, thereby preventing energy waste while preserving acceleration capability when needed.
2Speed
If the kickdown switch is activated to request increased maximum power from the powertrain, then the vehicle can be accelerated faster, but this results in increased noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically modifies its response to kickdown switch activation based on detected conditions. When a speed limiter is active and current speed exceeds the threshold, the system suppresses the default power increase action, thereby preventing unnecessary noise generation. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain quiet operation during speed-limited conditions while preserving the ability to generate noise and acceleration when conditions permit.
3Loss of energy
If the system prevents power increases when speed limiter is active and speed exceeds threshold, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the driver's request for increased power is ignored
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its response based on the specific driving situation. Rather than universally ignoring kickdown requests, the system selectively modifies the default action only when a speed limiter is active and current speed exceeds the threshold. This conditional approach preserves driver control responsiveness in most situations while preventing energy waste only when physically constrained by speed limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the powertrain response based on detected conditions. By monitoring speed limiter status and current speed threshold, the system adjusts whether the kickdown switch activates the default power increase action or an altered action. This parameter-based control allows the system to optimize fuel efficiency under constrained conditions while maintaining normal driver control authority when conditions permit.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for controlling driving power from a powertrain of a motor vehicle comprising a kickdown switch, wherein an activation of the kickdown switch triggers a default action of temporarily requesting an increase of a maximum power available from the powertrain, the method comprising: recognizing that a speed limiter, setting an upper speed limit for the vehicle speed, is active, comparing a current vehicle speed to a predefined speed threshold, which is below the upper speed limit, and if the current vehicle speed is above the speed threshold and the speed limiter is active, triggering an altered action in response to the activation of the kickdown switch.