Electric Motor Standby Vibration Detection for Driver Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles lack a clear indication to drivers of whether they are turned off or in a standby mode, leading to potential safety issues due to the difficulty in distinguishing between being off and being ready to be driven, which can result in accidents.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a traction electric motor, an electrical energy storage device, and a control circuit with idling state sensors to detect when the vehicle is in an idling state, supplying a small amount of power to create a vibration and providing audible and visual alerts to inform the driver that the vehicle is ready to be driven.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If electric vehicles are designed without combustion engines, then zero tail pipe emissions are achieved, but clear indication of vehicle status (OFF vs. standby mode) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration by causing the electric motor to vibrate when in standby mode, creating a tactile sensation similar to combustion engine idle vibration. This allows drivers to physically feel and distinguish between OFF and standby states without relying on audible or visual cues, thereby resolving the information loss while maintaining zero emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual indicators such as LED lights that change color or illuminate to indicate vehicle status. These visual signals provide clear feedback to drivers about whether the vehicle is in OFF or standby mode, compensating for the loss of traditional engine vibration cues and preventing status confusion.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electric vehicles operate silently in standby mode, then energy consumption is reduced, but driver awareness of vehicle status decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates low-level mechanical vibrations in the motor during standby mode that are detectible to the driver but consume minimal energy. This provides reliable status indication while maintaining low energy consumption, as the vibration level is sufficient for driver awareness but far below levels that would indicate full operational mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary indicators (visual LEDs, tactile vibrations) that mediate between the silent electric motor and the driver's need for status awareness. These intermediaries provide reliable status information without requiring the motor to operate at full power, thus maintaining energy efficiency while ensuring driver awareness.
3Device complexity
If no status indication is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but safety due to mistaken vehicle status belief increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the electric motor itself as the vibration source, requiring no additional dedicated vibration mechanisms. By utilizing the motor's inherent capability to generate detectible vibrations in standby mode, the system provides safety-critical status indication with minimal added complexity, preventing accidents from mistaken status belief.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the electric motor multi-functional by using it both for propulsion and for status indication through vibration generation. This eliminates the need for separate indication systems, maintaining low device complexity while providing the safety function of clear status communication to prevent accidents.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances driver safety by providing a detectable indication that the vehicle is in standby mode, reducing the risk of accidents caused by mistaken beliefs about the vehicle's status.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a small amount of power to create a vibration and providing audible and visual alerts
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for detecting that an electric motor drive vehicle (e.g., an electric scooter or motorbike) is idling based on one or more of sensed parameters indicative of the idling state. These sensed parameters may include one or more of, alone or in any combination, a sensed throttle position, at least one sensed electrical characteristic of a traction electric motor, a power converter, or an electrical storage device of the vehicle, and a sensed rate of rotation of a drive shaft of the traction electric motor or of a wheel drivably coupled to the traction electric motor. Upon detecting that the vehicle is in an idling state, a controller of the vehicle enters into a standby mode. In the standby mode, a relatively small amount of electrical power is supplied to the traction electric motor to cause a vibration of the motor to alert a driver that the vehicle is ON in the standby mode and is ready to be driven. Additionally, an audible and/or visual indication may be issued in the standby mode to further alert the driver that the vehicle is ON and ready to be driven.