Tow-Start Detection in Internal Combustion Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods cannot distinguish between a tow-start and a conventional start of an internal combustion engine, leading to unintended automatic shutdowns and potential vehicle breakdowns due to undetected defects in the starting system.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects a tow-start by evaluating the activity and inactivity of the starter unit, using signals reflecting crankshaft speed and starter unit activity, to prevent unwanted shutdowns and allow for specific operational measures when a tow-start is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the automatic shutdown function is activated to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, then energy consumption is reduced and environmental impact decreases, but the risk of unintended shutdowns increases when the starting system is defective
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary check by detecting whether the starter unit is active during the starting process. If the starter unit shows no activity despite a successful engine start being detected, the system preliminarily identifies this as a tow-start condition and deactivates the automatic shutdown function before it can cause problems, thus preventing unintended shutdowns while maintaining the function during normal operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the activity status of the starter unit and uses this feedback to determine whether to activate or deactivate the automatic shutdown function. By evaluating the starter unit signal in real-time during the starting process, the system can adaptively control the shutdown function based on the actual starting condition, ensuring reliable operation during defective starts while maintaining energy efficiency during normal operation
2Reliability
If the automatic shutdown function is deactivated to prevent breakdowns during tow-start, then vehicle reliability is maintained, but fuel efficiency and emissions reduction benefits are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic shutdown function is designed to be dynamic rather than static - it is activated during normal operation to save fuel but automatically deactivated when a tow-start condition is detected. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize fuel efficiency during normal operation while ensuring reliability during abnormal starting conditions, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and operational reliability
3Measurement precision
If the starter unit activity signal is continuously monitored to detect tow-start conditions, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and signal processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the critical information needed for tow-start detection - specifically, whether the starter unit shows any activity during the starting process. By focusing on this single key parameter (starter unit activity status) rather than monitoring all possible engine parameters, the system achieves accurate tow-start detection while keeping the signal evaluation simple and the control device complexity low
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for identifying a tow start operation of an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle. A signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of a starter unit of an internal combustion engine is detected and a tow start of the internal combustion engine is identified, if after identifying a successful start of the internal combustion engine, the signal representing the activity and/or inactivity of the starter unit has not displayed any activity of said starter unit since the initiation of the starting process of the internal combustion engine.