Vehicle Parking Interlock System for Ramp Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle safety systems fail to effectively prevent accidents by not adequately addressing the risks associated with driving on ramps, where premature or delayed release of the brake can lead to slipping or stalling, due to the need for drivers to manage multiple controls simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

A parking interlock system that includes a safety state information detecting unit, an operating state information detecting unit, a low voltage controller, and a motor controller, which communicate to control the brake and motor, ensuring the vehicle remains locked until both speed and torque are zero for a predetermined period, enhancing safety and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the driver operates multiple driving equipments simultaneously, then the vehicle can be controlled, but the traffic safety is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver operationVSAvoidtraffic safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic brake control based on detected driving conditions. The brake controller automatically adjusts brake lever position based on vehicle state (ramp detection, speed, torque) without requiring continuous manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining safety while reducing driver workload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vehicle state through multiple sensors (speed sensor, torque sensor, ramp detection) and uses this feedback to automatically adjust brake control. The brake controller receives real-time feedback about vehicle conditions and modifies brake application accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that enhances safety without requiring constant driver attention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the driver looses the brake lever too early, then the vehicle may slip, but if the driver looses the brake lever too late, then the vehicle may be stalled or the motor may suffer damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle safetyVSAvoidbrake lever control

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical brake control with an electronic control system. The brake lever is positioned automatically by a brake actuator controlled by the brake controller, eliminating the need for manual mechanical manipulation while maintaining precise control over brake application and release timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of driving conditions (ramp status, vehicle speed, motor torque) before making brake control decisions. By detecting these parameters in advance and using them to predict when brake release is safe, the system proactively prevents both premature and delayed brake release scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the brake is controlled manually by the driver, then the driver has direct control, but the precision of brake release timing is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrake controlVSAvoidbrake release timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to create accurate copies of the driver's intended actions and vehicle state. The brake controller receives signals that replicate the driver's acceleration requests and combines them with sensor data to determine precise brake release timing, effectively copying and enhancing the driver's control intent with machine precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3140172B1Vehicle parking interlock system and method

Publication Date: 2020.01.15 BYD CO LTD

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AI summary

A parking interlock system and method for a vehicle is provided. The system includes: a safety state information detecting unit (100), configured to detect safety state information of the vehicle; an operating state information detecting unit (200), configured to detect operating state information of the vehicle; a brake (300); a motor (400); a low voltage controller (500), connected to the safety state information detecting unit and the brake respectively, and configured to generate a safety state judgment result based on the safety state information of the vehicle; and a motor controller (600), connected to the safety state information detecting unit and the motor respectively, and configured to control the motor according to the safety state judgment result received from the low voltage controller, and to send the operating state information of the vehicle to the low voltage controller such that the low voltage controller controls the brake according to the operating sate information.