Motor Drive Torque Stepping for Driver Alertness During Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles and continuously variable transmission vehicles experience reduced driver alertness due to the lack of traction interruptions and acoustic signaling during acceleration, leading to potential driver fatigue and compromised road safety.
Innovation Solution
A method allowing a motor vehicle with a drive unit featuring uninterrupted torque output to operate in two modes: one with continuous acceleration and another simulating stepped torque output, complete with adjustable interruptions and acoustic signals, to enhance driver attention and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a drive unit with uninterrupted torque output is used to achieve smooth continuous acceleration, then driving comfort is improved, but driver alertness deteriorates due to lack of perceptible changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by introducing regularly spaced torque interruptions during acceleration. The control unit generates multiple torque drops at predetermined intervals, creating a periodic pattern that mimics traditional gear changes. This periodic stimulation maintains driver alertness while preserving the overall smooth acceleration characteristic of CVT vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by dynamically modifying torque delivery parameters. The control unit adjusts torque magnitude, interruption duration, and frequency to simulate different gear change patterns. By changing these parameters, the system can create perceptible torque variations that enhance driver awareness without compromising the fundamental uninterrupted torque output capability.
2Reliability
If traditional multi-stage transmissions are used to provide perceptible gear changes, then driver attention is maintained, but mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by replicating the perceptible effects of traditional gear changes through simulated torque interruptions. Instead of physically implementing multiple gear stages, the system copies the sensory experience of gear changes by creating artificial torque drops that mimic the acceleration patterns of conventional transmissions. This allows CVT vehicles to provide similar driver feedback without the mechanical complexity of multi-stage transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear change system with an electronic control system that generates simulated torque interruptions. Rather than using physical gears and shafts to achieve stepped acceleration, the system uses electronic torque management to create equivalent perceptible effects. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical transmission components while maintaining the desired driver attention benefits.
3Reliability
If torque interruptions are introduced to simulate gear changes, then driver fatigue is reduced, but acceleration smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing torque interruptions that are sufficient to provide perceptible feedback but limited in magnitude and duration. The torque drops are carefully controlled to be just enough to alert the driver without causing excessive disruption to acceleration smoothness. This partial intervention maintains the balance between driver alertness and comfortable acceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by preparing for torque interruptions in advance. The control system pre-plans the timing and magnitude of torque drops to minimize disruption. By anticipating the need for driver stimulation, the system can smooth out the transitions and cushion the impact of torque variations, thereby maintaining overall acceleration smoothness while still providing necessary perceptible changes.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a drive unit, which is designed such that, in the case of acceleration, the motor vehicle is accelerated with a continuously variable torque output. According to the method, the drive unit can be operated in a first and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the motor vehicle is accelerated without interruption by means of the continuously variable torque output. In the second operating mode, the continuous torque output is switched to a stepped torque output, and thus in the second operating mode the motor vehicle is accelerated with interruption by means of the stepped torque output.