Vehicle Idling Stop Control Slope Gradient Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with idling stop control devices and neutral-at-idle control devices may experience unanticipated movement when stopped on sloping ground, especially with heavy loads, due to insufficient braking systems, leading to potential accidents.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus for vehicles with an idling stop control device, a road surface gradient detector, and a standing time measuring unit, where the idling stop inhibition controller regulates fuel reduction by inhibiting idling stop control if the vehicle is stopped on a slope with a gradient greater than a predetermined value, ensuring the vehicle remains stationary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the idling stop control device shuts off the internal combustion engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle may experience unanticipated movement on sloping ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the idling stop function based on real-time road gradient detection. The ECU dynamically adjusts whether to permit engine shutdown based on the detected gradient threshold, making the system adaptive to different operating conditions rather than applying a fixed shutdown rule
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a road gradient detector as an intermediary device that provides critical information about the operating environment. This intermediary sensor enables the control system to make informed decisions about whether to activate the idling stop function, serving as a mediator between the vehicle's operational state and the control logic
2Use of energy by moving object
If the transmission is shifted into neutral during idling operation, then fuel consumption is improved, but the braking system may be insufficient to prevent vehicle movement on slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic control to the neutral-at-idle function, where the ECU dynamically determines whether to permit transmission neutral shifting based on real-time gradient detection. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize fuel consumption during idling while maintaining vehicle stability on sloping terrain
Solution Approach 2:
The road gradient detector serves as an intermediary that provides environmental information to the control system, enabling informed decisions about neutral-at-idle activation. This intermediary sensor bridges the gap between vehicle operational state and environmental conditions
3Reliability
If the idling stop control is regulated based on road surface gradient, then vehicle stability is maintained, but the fuel consumption reduction effectiveness is diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the idling stop and neutral-at-idle functions based on the road gradient parameter. By adjusting system behavior according to gradient conditions, the patent optimizes the balance between fuel consumption reduction and vehicle stability
Data Source
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AI summary
A control apparatus (1) for a vehicle, which is provided an idling stop controller (20) that automatically stops an engine (11) when idling stop conditions are satisfied during the idling of the engine (11), and regulates the automatic stop of the engine (11) by using the idling stop controller (20) when road surface gradient θ detected by a gradient detector (3) is equal to or larger than predetermined slope θ1, the device in which if the idling stop conditions are not satisfied before predetermined time Ta elapses after the vehicle is stopped, the automatic stop of the engine (11) is regulated on sloping ground until vehicle speed V becomes equal to or higher than predetermined speed after elapse of the predetermined time Ta.