Traffic-Aware Engine Start Control for Launch Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for automatic shutdown and restart of internal combustion engines in vehicles often result in unacceptable engine start delays, impacting vehicle launch performance, especially in automatic transmissions, due to physical and combustion control limitations, and do not effectively anticipate traffic conditions to optimize fuel efficiency and emissions.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors and detectors, such as cameras, radar, and GPS, to anticipate vehicle launches by monitoring the vehicle's position relative to the traffic stream, inhibiting engine shutdown or initiating restart based on detected movement of surrounding vehicles and traffic signals, thereby improving launch performance and fuel economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine is shut down when wheel speed is zero and the brake pedal is depressed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, then fuel efficiency is improved, but engine start delay increases and launch performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting traffic signal changes and anticipating the need for vehicle launch before the engine shutdown is finalized. The controller monitors traffic conditions and predicts whether the vehicle will need to launch soon, allowing it to prevent engine shutdown or delay restart in advance, thus avoiding the time loss associated with rapid restart while still achieving fuel savings during stationary periods.
2Speed
If the engine restarts when the accelerator pedal is depressed to improve launch performance, then launch performance is improved, but fuel consumption increases due to unnecessary restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring traffic signal status, vehicle position, and driver inputs to determine whether an engine restart is actually necessary. The controller uses this feedback to make intelligent decisions about when to restart the engine, preventing unnecessary restarts that would consume fuel while ensuring timely restarts when traffic conditions require vehicle launch.
3Speed
If complex systems with cameras and wireless receivers are used to detect traffic signal changes and determine when to restart the engine, then launch performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using the existing vehicle's camera and wireless receiver systems for multiple purposes: not only for detecting traffic signal changes for engine restart control, but also for general vehicle monitoring, navigation, and driver information display. This approach allows the patent to improve launch performance through traffic-aware engine control without adding separate dedicated systems, thus avoiding the complexity penalty.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for controlling an internal combustion engine include anticipating vehicle launch in response to vehicle position relative to a traffic stream and controlling automatic restart and shut down in response to an anticipated vehicle launch to prevent an automatic engine shut down or to initiate an automatic engine restart. Embodiments include determining vehicle position and traffic position using GPS coordinates. Automatic restart may be initiated in response to movement of a forward vehicle away from the vehicle or in response to a signal from a traffic control device, for example. Automatic shutdown may be inhibited in response to movement of a forward vehicle in cross traffic, in response to a turn indicator being active, or in response to wheel angle, for example.