Vehicle Fuelometer Idling Stop Control via Stepping Motor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle display systems with idling stop functions incorrectly indicate fuel consumption changes during idling stop states, causing discomfort for drivers due to incorrect needle deflection indicating increased or decreased average fuel consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle display device with a control unit that calculates fuel consumption deviation and a fuelometer indicating whether the current driving state decreases average fuel consumption, with the fuelometer showing 0 during idling stop states to accurately represent no change in fuel consumption, using a stepping motor to position a needle on a scale indicating the deviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fuelometer needle is driven by a stepping motor to a zero return position outside the scale during idling stop, then the needle can be positioned, but the indication becomes incorrect showing maximum deflection instead of zero deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary detection of the idling stop state before the needle positioning action. By detecting that the vehicle is in an idling stop state (where speed and fuel consumption are 0), the control unit preemptively prevents the needle from being driven to the zero return position outside the scale, thereby avoiding incorrect indication before the problem occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the stepping motor driver and the needle positioning mechanism. It intercepts the positioning command, determines that the vehicle is in an idling stop state, and overrides the command to keep the needle at the zero position on the scale, thus mediating between the motor's tendency to return to its mechanical zero and the need for correct visual indication.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the needle is driven to the zero return position of the stepping motor during idling stop, then the motor can return to its reference position, but the indication shows maximum deflection which is incorrect
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit detects the idling stop state in advance and preemptively prevents the stepping motor from being driven to its zero return position. By detecting that both speed and fuel consumption are 0, the control unit stops the motor at the zero position on the scale rather than allowing it to return to its mechanical reference position outside the scale, thus preventing incorrect indication before it happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that manages the conflict between the stepping motor's need to return to its reference position and the fuelometer's need to show accurate indication. It overrides the motor's automatic zero return function during idling stop conditions, keeping the needle at the correct zero position on the scale even though this may not be the motor's mechanical reference position.
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
The system correctly informs drivers about the impact of their driving state on average fuel consumption, eliminating the discomfort caused by incorrect indications during idling stop states by accurately depicting no change in fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the position of a needle is not determined. Hence, during idling stop, the needle is moved to, for example, a position corresponding to a zero return position of a stepping motor which drives the needle.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle display device is arranged in a vehicle having an idling stop function that automatically stops an engine when the vehicle temporarily stops. The device includes a control unit that calculates a deviation of a current instant fuel consumption with respect to an average fuel consumption in a past predetermined period of the vehicle; and a fuelometer that indicates fuel consumption information representing whether a current driving state of the vehicle decreases the average fuel consumption. When the vehicle is in the idling stop state, the fuelometer indicates that the deviation is 0 regardless of the instant fuel consumption and the average fuel consumption.