Vehicle Control Apparatus Torque Reduction Drivability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle control apparatuses deteriorate drivability by uniformly reducing fuel injection and torque when the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed simultaneously, leading to vehicle stoppages and hesitation, without considering eco-run and brake hold functions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus that interrupts power transmission from the engine to the wheels only when necessary, using a power shutoff prohibition unit to prevent automatic engine stopping during reduction control, and maintains a minimum accelerator opening to prevent drivability issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the fuel injection amount is uniformly reduced when both accelerator and brake pedals are depressed, then the torque output is reduced, but the vehicle stoppages and hesitation occur deteriorating drivability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque outputVSAvoiddrivability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies different control strategies to different operating conditions. When both accelerator and brake pedals are depressed, the system determines whether the vehicle is in motion or stopped, and applies appropriate torque reduction control only when necessary, rather than uniformly reducing torque in all cases. This local differentiation maintains drivability while achieving torque reduction when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the torque output based on real-time detection of pedal positions and vehicle motion state. The torque reduction control is activated or deactivated dynamically according to whether the vehicle is moving or stopped, rather than using a static uniform reduction approach. This dynamic adaptation prevents drivability deterioration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the engine is automatically stopped to save fuel, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle stability and performance deteriorate during simultaneous pedal depression

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel consumptionVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device prevents engine stoppage from occurring in the first place when both accelerator and brake pedals are depressed and the vehicle is in motion. By detecting this condition beforehand and maintaining engine operation, the system avoids the instability that would result from sudden engine stoppage, while still allowing fuel-saving stoppage under appropriate conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors pedal positions and vehicle motion state, and uses this feedback to determine whether engine stoppage should be permitted. When simultaneous pedal depression is detected along with vehicle motion, the feedback loop maintains engine operation, thereby preserving vehicle stability while still enabling fuel-saving stoppage under different conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Power

If the torque is reduced during simultaneous pedal depression, then the output control is improved, but the power transmission interruption causes vehicle stoppage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque controlVSAvoidvehicle speed continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically determines whether torque reduction should lead to power transmission interruption based on vehicle motion state. When the vehicle is moving, torque reduction is applied without interrupting power transmission. When the vehicle is already stopped, power transmission interruption is permitted. This dynamic approach maintains speed continuity during torque reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control device applies different power transmission control strategies based on the vehicle's motion state. During simultaneous pedal depression, the system locally differentiates between moving and stopped conditions, allowing torque reduction control to operate differently in each case to maintain appropriate power transmission continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2514651B1Control device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2514651B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2514651B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2514651B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a vehicle control apparatus which can prevent the deterioration of drivability. The ECU (100) can set a control accelerator opening degree to be converted when a control permission condition is established. The control accelerator opening degree is equal to or larger than an accelerator lower limit which is larger than an idle determination value for determining an automatic stopping of an engine 12 by an eco-run. The control accelerator opening degree thus set can prevent the drivability from being deteriorated without the automatic stopping of the engine 12 being caused even if the accelerator opening degree is converted to reduce the torque of the engine with the establishment of the control permission condition.