Powertrain Control System for Occupancy-Based Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) constraints limit the fuel economy of vehicle powertrains, as deactivating engine cylinders or reducing torque converter slippage can increase efficiency but also cause unpleasant torque pulsations and vibrational shocks, while reducing gear shift speeds may increase noise and vibrations experienced by occupants.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that detects occupancy status using sensors and adjusts engine operating parameters, such as transmission schedules and torque converter lock-up schedules, to prioritize efficiency over NVH in situations where occupants are less exposed to engine noise and vibrations, allowing for cylinder deactivation and torque converter slippage adjustments based on occupancy configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If cylinders of the engine are deactivated to increase efficiency, then fuel economy is improved, but torque pulsations occur that are unpleasant for occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the cylinder deactivation strategy adaptive rather than static. The control system continuously monitors occupancy status and dynamically adjusts whether to deactivate cylinders based on real-time conditions. When no occupants are detected, the system deactivates cylinders for maximum fuel economy; when occupants are present, it activates all cylinders to eliminate torque pulsations. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for fuel economy when possible while protecting occupants from harmful vibrations when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the operational state of engine cylinders based on occupancy detection. The control system changes the activation parameter of cylinders (from fully active to partially deactivated) according to the detected occupancy status. This parameter adjustment allows the system to achieve fuel economy improvements through cylinder deactivation when appropriate, while maintaining smooth operation and avoiding torque pulsations when occupants are present.
2Use of energy by moving object
If slippage in the torque converter is reduced to increase efficiency, then powertrain efficiency is improved, but vibrational shocks are transmitted more to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by dynamically adjusting the torque converter lock-up state based on occupancy status. The control system monitors whether occupants are present and dynamically switches between locked and unlocked states of the torque converter. When no occupants are detected, the system locks the torque converter to minimize slippage and maximize efficiency. When occupants are present, the system unlocks the torque converter to allow slippage that absorbs vibrational shocks, thereby resolving the contradiction between efficiency and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the lock-up parameter of the torque converter based on occupancy detection. The control system changes the engagement state parameter (locked vs. unlocked) according to real-time occupancy status. This parameter adjustment enables the system to optimize efficiency through reduced slippage when appropriate while preventing harmful vibrational shocks from being transmitted to occupants when necessary.
3Use of energy by moving object
If gear shifts occur at lower vehicle speeds to increase fuel economy, then fuel economy is improved, but noise and vibrations increase for occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gear shift strategy adaptive based on occupancy status. The control system continuously monitors occupancy and dynamically adjusts gear shift timing and speed thresholds. When no occupants are detected, the system performs gear shifts at lower speeds to maximize fuel economy. When occupants are present, the system delays gear shifts to higher speeds or uses smoother shift strategies to reduce noise and vibrations, thereby resolving the contradiction between fuel economy and occupant comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the gear shift speed thresholds and timing parameters based on occupancy detection. The control system changes the operational parameters of gear shifts (such as shift point speeds and transition rates) according to the detected occupancy status. This parameter adjustment allows the system to achieve fuel economy improvements through earlier gear shifts when appropriate while maintaining lower noise and vibration levels when occupants are present.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a transmission, a torque converter coupled to the transmission, a controller in communication with the transmission and the torque converter; a driver seat, a passenger seat, and a back seat coupled to the transmission, and sensors configured to detect occupancy of the seats. The sensors are in communication with the controller. The controller is programmed to receive data from the sensors, determine an occupancy status based on the occupancy data, set an engine operating parameter of one of the transmission and the torque converter based on the occupancy status, and control one of the transmission and the torque converter to operate according to the parameter.