Vehicle Start-Stop Inhibition Detection and Driver Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic stop and start systems in vehicles do not adequately inform drivers about situations where the engine cannot be automatically stopped, leading to unexpected and confusing moments, particularly when the battery charge is insufficient, causing potential engine restart issues.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects and determines the cause of inhibition of the start/stop function, memorizes these causes within a calibrated mileage window, and provides this information to the driver, using a vehicle computer to record and display the reasons for non-operation, such as low battery charge, driver absence, or system protection conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the battery capacity is increased to ensure sufficient charge for engine restart, then the reliability of the start/stop function is improved, but the cost and bulk of the vehicle increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of start/stop functionVSAvoidbulk of battery
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system checks the battery charge state in advance before the automatic shutdown is requested, and informs the driver beforehand if the charge is insufficient. This preliminary detection and warning allows the driver to be aware of the condition before it affects the start/stop function, avoiding unexpected engine restarts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the battery charge is checked before each automatic shutdown to ensure sufficient charge, then the reliability of the start/stop function is improved, but the driver experience deteriorates due to confusion when the engine does not stop as expected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of start/stop functionVSAvoiddriver experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the driver through a warning signal when the battery charge is insufficient for automatic restart. This feedback loop informs the driver of the system's state and the reason why the engine will not stop automatically, eliminating confusion and improving driver understanding of the system's operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the automatic stopping of the engine is prevented to maintain sufficient battery charge, then the reliability of engine restart is improved, but the driver becomes confused and worried due to unexpected non-stopping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of engine restartVSAvoiddriver understanding of system operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the driver through a warning signal when the battery charge is insufficient for automatic restart. This feedback loop informs the driver of the system's state and the reason why the engine will not stop automatically, eliminating confusion and improving driver understanding of the system's operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The warning signal acts as an intermediary communication channel between the battery management system and the driver. It translates the technical state (insufficient battery charge) into driver-understandable information, bridging the gap between system operation and driver expectation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2608994B1Method for monitoring the operation of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.05.24 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP2608994B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the operation of a vehicle including a heat engine, the vehicle being provided with a function for starting/stopping the heat engine, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: detecting an inhibition of the function for starting/stopping the heat engine; determining the cause of the inhibition; and storing the cause in a memory. The invention also relates to the vehicle suitable for implementing the method. The invention makes it possible to ensure that the driver associates the fact that the engine has not automatically stopped with a normal operating situation even though the driver is expecting the heat engine to automatically stop as a result of the stop and start function.