Micro-Hybrid Stop-Start System Location-Based Engine Restart Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In micro-hybrid vehicles, the existing stop/start systems restart the engine unnecessarily when shifting out of the DRIVE gear, leading to fuel wastage and delays, particularly in situations like intersections or railroad crossings where immediate reverse motion is required.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that selectively initiate the engine restart before shifting into REVERSE by determining the vehicle's location using navigation systems, preventing unnecessary restarts when the vehicle has reached its final destination and ensuring timely engine activation in critical locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine is restarted automatically when shifting out of DRIVE gear, then the vehicle is prepared for immediate motion in any direction, but unnecessary restarts occur at final destinations causing fuel wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the vehicle's location using GPS/navigation data before the gear shift is completed. By determining in advance whether the vehicle is at a location where reverse motion is needed (intersection, railroad crossing), the system prepares the engine restart timing accordingly, avoiding unnecessary restarts at final destinations while ensuring readiness when needed.
2Speed
If the engine restarts immediately when shifting out of DRIVE, then the vehicle can move quickly in any direction, but delays occur when the vehicle is at final destinations where reverse motion is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system determines the vehicle's location and the system's response strategy in advance, before the driver completes the gear shift operation. This preliminary assessment allows the engine control unit to execute the restart command at the optimal moment - immediately when needed for safety-critical locations, or delayed when the vehicle is clearly at a final destination, thereby eliminating unnecessary delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors GPS location data and provides feedback to the engine control unit. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt the engine restart timing based on real-time location information, ensuring that restarts occur only when necessary for the vehicle's current operational context, thus optimizing both response time and fuel efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If the system determines vehicle location to prevent unnecessary restarts, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing navigation/GPS system already present in modern vehicles for multiple purposes - both for route guidance and for determining whether an engine restart is necessary. By making the navigation system serve this additional function, the patent avoids adding dedicated hardware while still achieving location-based control logic to prevent unnecessary restarts.
Data Source
AI summary
A stop/start system of a micro-hybrid vehicle may selectively initiate an engine auto start in response to a PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted out of DRIVE after an engine auto stop and a determination that the vehicle is located, for example, in an intersection or railroad crossing prior to the PRNDL gear lever/transmission being moved/shifted into REVERSE.