Vehicle Idling Control Prohibiting Unnecessary Engine Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing idling reduction technologies for vehicles are not effective in reducing fuel consumption and emissions when the vehicle is stopped for short periods, as they often prohibit idling reduction unnecessarily, such as when an obstacle is approaching, leading to a decrease in the number of idling reduction executions.
Innovation Solution
An idling control apparatus that includes a frontal environment recognition unit, an obstacle recognition unit, and a stop-for-danger-avoidance determination unit to assess whether the vehicle is stopped for danger, thereby prohibiting unnecessary engine stops and allowing idling reduction only when safe to do so.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If idling reduction is prohibited whenever an obstacle is approaching ahead of the vehicle, then safety is improved, but the number of idling reduction executions decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the idling reduction prohibition dynamic rather than static. The system continuously monitors the vehicle's operational state and only prohibits idling reduction when the vehicle is actually stopped against an obstacle for danger avoidance. When the vehicle is moving or the stop reason is unclear, idling reduction is permitted. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by preventing unnecessary prohibitions while maintaining safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of prohibition condition from a simple obstacle detection to a composite assessment involving vehicle speed, brake status, and stop reason determination. By changing these parameters, the system distinguishes between dangerous stops (where idling reduction should be prohibited) and safe stops (where idling reduction can proceed), thereby resolving the contradiction between safety and execution frequency.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle stops due to traffic congestion, then idling reduction should be performed to save fuel, but existing technologies prohibit it unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the vehicle's operational state and the reason for stopping. The system provides feedback to the idling control unit about whether the vehicle is stopped for danger avoidance or other reasons. This feedback mechanism allows the system to permit idling reduction during traffic congestion stops (where it is beneficial for fuel economy) while prohibiting it only when actually stopped against obstacles for safety, thus resolving the contradiction between energy savings and operational ease.
3Loss of energy
If idling reduction is executed without accurate stop reason determination, then fuel consumption decreases, but safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the stop reason before executing idling reduction. The system preliminarily assesses whether the vehicle is stopped for danger avoidance by checking brake status, vehicle speed, and environmental information before permitting or prohibiting idling reduction. This preliminary determination ensures that fuel savings are achieved only when safe, resolving the contradiction between energy reduction and safety maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
In an idling control apparatus for a vehicle, normally, when a predetermined idling reduction execution condition is satisfied, a signal is output to the engine control device so as to execute idling reduction for stopping the idling operation of an engine to automatically stop it. Further, it is determined whether or not a subject vehicle is stopped against an obstacle for avoidance of danger based on at least one of environmental information in front of the subject vehicle, obstacle information and a driving condition of the subject vehicle before it is stopped. When it is determined that the subject vehicle is stopped against the obstacle for avoidance of danger, automatic engine stop is prohibited.