Vehicle Control Device Engine Sound Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to maintain a natural change in the operating sound of an internal combustion engine when transitioning from a hybrid traveling mode to an engine traveling mode, causing discomfort to the driver due to unnatural sound changes.
Innovation Solution
A control device that includes a traveling mode control unit and an internal combustion engine control unit, which predicts the increase rate of the engine's rotational speed when transitioning from a hybrid traveling mode to an engine traveling mode and prohibits the transition if the predicted increase rate exceeds a certain threshold, ensuring a smooth sound change.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle transitions from the first traveling mode (hybrid mode) to the second traveling mode (engine mode) when the transition condition is satisfied, then the vehicle can operate in engine traveling mode, but the operating sound of the internal combustion engine changes unnaturally causing driver discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting the rotational speed increase rate before the mode transition occurs. The prediction increase rate acquisition unit calculates what the increase rate would be if transition happened at the current transition condition, and compares it with the actual increase rate. This preliminary prediction prevents unnatural sound changes by anticipating the transition's acoustic impact before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the actual rotational speed increase rate and comparing it with the prediction increase rate. When the actual increase rate falls outside the predetermined range defined by the prediction increase rate, the system feeds back this discrepancy and prohibits the mode transition. This feedback mechanism ensures that only transitions producing natural sound changes are permitted.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the system prohibits mode transition to maintain natural operating sound, then driver comfort is improved, but the vehicle's adaptability to different traveling conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies parameter changes by establishing a predetermined range based on the prediction increase rate rather than using a fixed threshold. This dynamic range adapts to different operating conditions while maintaining the natural sound characteristic. The transition prohibition is applied only when the actual increase rate falls outside this adaptive range, preserving flexibility within acceptable acoustic boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device of a vehicle capable of traveling according to a plurality of traveling modes including a first traveling mode and a second traveling mode is provided. The control device includes a traveling mode control unit and an internal combustion engine control unit. The internal combustion engine control unit increases a rotational speed of a internal combustion engine at a predetermined increase rate as a vehicle speed increases when the vehicle is traveling in the first traveling mode. The traveling mode control unit includes a prediction increase rate acquisition unit configured to acquire a prediction increase rate, and a transition prohibition setting unit configured to prohibit transition to the second traveling mode when a transition condition is satisfied, based on the prediction increase rate acquired by the prediction increase rate acquisition unit and the increase rate.