Throttle Valve Control for Simultaneous Gas and Brake Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control units fail to accurately control the throttle valve when both the gas and brake pedals are operated simultaneously, as they do not consider the degree of brake pedal operation, leading to inefficiencies in reducing vehicle drive output.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control unit that continuously monitors and evaluates the positions, depression forces, and operating conditions of both the gas and brake pedals, using sensors and a processor to assess a combined factor of safety, which regulates the throttle valve's operation to effectively manage drive power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the control unit only considers the degree of accelerator pedal operation to control the throttle valve, then the control system is simple, but the control precision and effectiveness are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidthrottle valve control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit merges the monitoring functions of both accelerator pedal and brake pedal into a single integrated control system. By combining the operational data from both pedals, the system achieves more precise throttle valve control without requiring separate independent control mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit dynamically changes the throttle valve control parameters based on the combined operational state of both pedals. By adjusting the throttle closure degree according to the specific combination of accelerator and brake pedal positions, the system achieves precise control adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the control unit monitors both gas pedal and brake pedal operations, then the control precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepedal operation detection precisionVSAvoidsensor and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle both accelerator pedal and brake pedal monitoring within a single device. This universal controller performs multiple functions including detecting both pedal operations, evaluating their combined effect, and controlling the throttle valve accordingly, thereby improving detection precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit utilizes existing vehicle sensors and processing capabilities to monitor both pedals, making the system self-sufficient. By leveraging already-present computational resources and sensor infrastructure, the system achieves enhanced monitoring precision without requiring entirely new dedicated hardware for each pedal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the throttle valve is closed completely or partially based only on accelerator pedal position, then the response is simple, but the drive power reduction effectiveness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol response simplicityVSAvoiddrive power reduction effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the throttle valve closure strategy based on the real-time operational state of both pedals. Rather than using a fixed closure rule, the system adaptively determines the appropriate throttle position by evaluating the combined input from accelerator and brake pedals, thereby achieving effective drive power reduction while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit implements feedback mechanisms that continuously evaluate the operational state of both pedals and adjust the throttle valve accordingly. By incorporating feedback from both accelerator and brake pedal positions, the system achieves reliable drive power reduction effectiveness while maintaining a straightforward control response mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3953229B1An improved electronic control device for an automobile
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 MOENS ALEX
  • EP3953229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3953229B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3953229B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of present invention provide an improved and more precise electronic control unit mechanism for a vehicle to effectively control operation of a throttle valve, based on operating conditions of a gas pedal and a brake pedal both, whenever a unintentional or accidental situation of simultaneous operations of the gas pedal and the brake pedal is detected. The electronic control unit regulates the functioning of the throttle valve, based on the positions of the gas pedal and the brake pedal both, and hence controls the output drive power of the vehicle.