Vehicle Control Device for Ancillary Unit Switching During Coasting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems fail to optimize energy consumption by unnecessarily switching on and off ancillary units, leading to increased fuel and energy costs, as these units are often activated only during braking and may not adequately fulfill their functions during extended coasting or rolling states.

Innovation Solution

A method and control device that determine the probable duration of a vehicle's rolling or sailing state, allowing for the strategic switching off of ancillary units when the coasting phase is sufficiently long, thereby extending the energetically favorable state and minimizing unnecessary switching processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If ancillary units are switched on only during braking, then energy consumption is reduced, but the ancillary units may not adequately fulfill their functions during extended coasting or rolling states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidfunction fulfillment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically adjusts the switching behavior of ancillary units based on the predicted duration of the rolling state. Instead of a static switching rule, the system adapts the switching decision to the specific driving situation, switching off ancillary units only when the rolling state is predicted to last longer than a threshold duration, thereby ensuring both energy efficiency and functional reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device performs a preliminary prediction of the rolling state duration using sensor data and driving patterns before making the switching decision. This advance assessment allows the system to proactively determine whether switching off ancillary units would be beneficial, preventing both unnecessary energy consumption and potential functional deficiencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If ancillary units are frequently switched on and off, then energy consumption during coasting is reduced, but wear on ancillary units and their clutches increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidwear on ancillary units and clutches
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The switching strategy is dynamically adjusted based on the predicted rolling state duration. The control device switches off ancillary units only when the rolling state is predicted to exceed a threshold duration, thereby reducing the frequency of switching operations and minimizing wear on ancillary units and their clutches while still achieving energy savings during extended coasting phases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the switching parameter (threshold duration) based on driving conditions and rolling state predictions. By adjusting when switching occurs based on predicted duration rather than using a fixed schedule or simple trigger, the system optimizes the balance between energy savings and component wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If ancillary units remain on during coasting, then their functions are maintained, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunction fulfillmentVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs a preliminary prediction of the rolling state duration using sensor data and driving patterns before making the switching decision. This advance assessment allows the system to determine whether switching off ancillary units would be beneficial, maintaining their operation when the coasting phase is short and switching them off when the coasting phase is extended, thereby optimizing the balance between function fulfillment and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2540589B1Control device and method for controlling and/or regulating vehicle systems
Publication Date: 2017.06.28 ZF CV SYST HANNOVER GMBH
  • EP2540589B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2540589B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2540589B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling or regulating vehicle systems (1) in which a control of driving condition variables (v1, a1) of a vehicle (1) is carried out, wherein a load-free rolling state of the vehicle (1) is adjustable and an expected duration (Delta-t) of the load-free rolling state is determined. According to the invention, it is provided that a switching state of an auxiliary unit (12) is set depending on the determined expected duration (Delta-t).