Vehicle Calibration Selection via GPS and Memory Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles often face regulatory compliance issues when driven to locations with different emissions and fuel economy standards than those for which they were originally calibrated, due to limited memory in vehicle controllers and the need for manual recalibration, which can be inconvenient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses satellite data to estimate a vehicle's position and load appropriate calibration parameters into the controller memory, allowing for automatic adjustment of actuators to comply with local regulations by combining baseline and compact calibration parameters, reducing memory usage and enabling quick calibration changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single calibration is programmed into the controller before the vehicle exits the manufacturing plant, then the vehicle complies with emissions and fuel economy regulations at the original location, but the vehicle cannot comply with regulations at new locations with different standards
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration data is segmented into a baseline calibration (stored in ROM) and multiple regional calibration sets (stored in RAM). Each regional calibration contains only the differential parameters needed to adjust the baseline calibration for specific geographical regulations. This segmentation allows the controller to store multiple calibrations without proportionally increasing total memory capacity, enabling regulatory compliance adaptability while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal and spatial dimension to calibration storage by implementing a location-based calibration selection system. Instead of storing all possible calibrations simultaneously in a flat structure, the system organizes calibrations in a hierarchical structure (baseline + regional differentials) and selects the appropriate calibration set based on the vehicle's geographical location detected via GPS. This dimensional organization enables multiple calibrations to be effectively stored and accessed without linearly increasing memory requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple complete calibrations are stored in controller memory, then the vehicle can comply with regulations at multiple locations, but the memory capacity requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the common baseline calibration parameters and stores them once in ROM. For each regional calibration, only the differential parameters that differ from the baseline are stored in RAM. This extraction approach reduces the total quantity of data that needs to be stored in memory, as the majority of calibration parameters remain identical across different regions and are shared through the baseline calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the baseline calibration from ROM with regional calibration differentials from RAM to create the active calibration in memory. This combining approach allows multiple regional calibrations to be stored compactly by sharing common parameters through the baseline, significantly reducing the total memory capacity required compared to storing complete duplicate calibration sets for each region.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle is serviced to change the calibration, then the calibration can be updated, but the vehicle becomes unavailable during the service process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service calibration update system where the controller automatically detects the vehicle's geographical location using GPS data and autonomously loads the appropriate regional calibration parameters from memory without requiring external service intervention. This self-service capability eliminates the need for dealership visits or technical personnel involvement, allowing calibration updates to occur instantly and automatically as the vehicle travels to different regions, thereby eliminating vehicle unavailability time entirely.
4Productivity
If calibration parameters are loaded quickly into controller memory, then regulatory compliance changes can be implemented rapidly, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-organizing calibration data into a hierarchical structure with a baseline calibration stored in ROM and regional differential calibrations stored in RAM before the vehicle needs them. The system also pre-configures the calibration loading logic and GPS-based selection criteria. When the vehicle travels to a new region, the appropriate calibration parameters are already prepared and can be loaded immediately without complex real-time processing, achieving rapid calibration updates while managing system complexity through advance preparation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures vehicles meet local emissions and fuel economy standards without the need for manual intervention, reduces memory requirements, and allows for multiple calibrations to be stored, enhancing regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
receiving data via one or more satellites; estimating a position of a vehicle in response to the data
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that may be driven to or sold in different geographical locations that may have different engine emissions and fuel economy standards are described. The systems and methods may adjust vehicle operation to comply with standards that may be enforced where the vehicle is geographically located. The standards may apply to countries, treaty zones, race track areas, off-road areas, and other geographically related standards.