Vehicle Engine Controller for Fog-Free Auto Stop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle engine controllers that temporarily stop and restart engines to conserve fuel often result in window fogging due to humidity changes, either failing to prevent fogging or inadequately reducing fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A controller that includes a humidity detector, fogging determination humidity estimator, and engine stop duration determiner to extend engine stop times based on humidity differences and operational conditions, such as blower fan and dehumidifier usage, while restarting the engine and activating the dehumidifier to prevent fogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine stop duration is extended to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel economy improves, but window glass fogging increases due to humidity accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary dehumidification action by operating the dehumidifier before the engine restarts, and uses preliminary forecasting through the fogging risk determination unit to predict fogging conditions. This preliminary action removes moisture from the passenger compartment before the engine stops, preventing fogging even during extended engine stop periods
Solution Approach 2:
The dehumidifier serves as an intermediary device that actively removes moisture from the passenger compartment during engine stop periods. The fogging risk determination unit acts as an intermediary that forecasts fogging conditions based on multiple parameters (humidity, temperature, outside conditions) and triggers appropriate control actions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the engine stop duration is shortened to prevent window fogging, then window visibility is maintained, but fuel consumption reduction becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the engine stop duration parameter based on real-time conditions. The fogging risk determination unit evaluates multiple parameters (internal humidity, temperature, outside air conditions, vehicle type) and adjusts the engine stop duration accordingly, allowing longer stops when fogging risk is low and shorter stops when risk is high
Solution Approach 2:
The control system transitions from static, fixed engine stop duration to dynamic, condition-based duration. The fogging risk determination unit continuously monitors conditions and the control unit dynamically adjusts engine stop duration and dehumidifier operation timing, creating a flexible system that adapts to changing environmental and operational conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the engine is restarted immediately to prevent fogging, then window visibility is maintained, but fuel consumption is not adequately reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control through the fogging risk determination unit that continuously monitors humidity, temperature, and outside conditions. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines appropriate engine stop duration and dehumidifier operation timing, creating a closed-loop system that prevents fogging while maximizing fuel savings
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 solution effectively reduces fuel consumption by maximizing engine stop duration without causing window fogging, using humidity and operational conditions to determine optimal engine restart times.
Implementation Method 1
a humidity detector which detects the humidity in the interior of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a dehumidifier operated from a driving force of the engine to dehumidify the interior of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a vehicle makes it possible to prevent window glass from fogging and also to reduce fuel consumption in conducting control to temporarily stop an engine when a vehicle stops. The controller for a vehicle includes a vehicle condition detector which detects a condition under which a vehicle is being placed, a fogging determination humidity estimator which estimates a fogging determination humidity, which is a humidity not causing window glass of the vehicle to fog up under the condition detected by the vehicle condition detector, a humidity detector which detects the humidity in the vehicle, and an engine stop duration determiner which determines a longer engine stop duration as the humidity difference increases between the humidity detected by the humidity detector immediately before an engine is stopped and the fogging determination humidity. An engine control unit restarts the engine and also starts up a refrigeration cycle unit and a blower fan when an engine stop duration has elapsed following an engine stop.