Vehicle Idle Stop Control Delay Time Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems cause driver annoyance due to repeated engine restarts and automatic stops, and fail to balance this with fuel consumption efficiency, as setting a long delay time reduces fuel savings while short delay times lead to frequent restarts and stops.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that includes a start request detector, shift position detector, and delay time setting module, which sets a delay time based on driver operation and shift position to optimize when the engine can automatically stop again after restart, ensuring minimal driver annoyance and efficient fuel savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long delay time is set to prevent frequent restarts and stops, then driver annoyance is reduced, but fuel consumption efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The delay time is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control device adjusts the delay time based on real-time detection of driver operations (accelerator depression, brake release) and vehicle conditions (air conditioner status). When driver intent indicates upcoming movement, the delay time is shortened or eliminated, allowing prompt engine restart. When no driver intent is detected, a longer delay time is applied to prevent frequent restarts and reduce fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the delay time parameter based on detected conditions. By monitoring driver operations and vehicle state, the control device selectively adjusts the delay time parameter - setting it to a short duration or zero when driver intent is detected, and to a longer duration when no intent is detected, thereby optimizing the balance between driver comfort and fuel efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Loss of energy
If a short delay time is set to allow prompt engine stop when driver intends to drive, then fuel efficiency is improved, but driver annoyance increases due to frequent restarts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of driver intent before the automatic stop condition is fully satisfied. By monitoring accelerator depression and brake release operations in advance, the control device predicts upcoming driver-initiated movement and proactively adjusts the delay time accordingly, preventing the engine from stopping just before the driver intends to move, thus avoiding unnecessary restarts and driver annoyance.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors driver operations and vehicle conditions as feedback signals. Based on this real-time feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the delay time parameter - shortening it when driver intent is detected (such as accelerator depression or brake release) and extending it when no intent is detected, thereby creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to driver behavior patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device configured to be capable of executing idle stop control to automatically stop an engine when a predetermined automatic stop condition is satisfied and restart the engine when a predetermined restart condition is satisfied during the automatic stop of the engine, the vehicle control device includes: a start request detector, a shift position detector, and a delay time setting module. A start request detector detects a driver operation indicating a request for starting the engine by a driver. A shift position detector detects a shift position of a shift changer. A delay time setting module sets, on a basis of presence or absence of the driver operation and the shift position, a delay time from when the engine is restarted until when an automatic stop of the engine is permitted.