Vehicle Rest Mode Control for Low-Noise Engine and Battery Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control technologies interfere with passenger rest in vehicles due to noise and vibration from engine on and off repetition, disrupting sleep.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus and method that includes a detector to obtain user information and a processor to determine a user state, entering a rest mode based on user input or fatigue analysis, and optimizing vehicle controls such as electronics load, engine operation, and battery charging to minimize disturbances during rest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the engine is turned on and off repeatedly to optimize fuel efficiency, then fuel consumption is reduced, but noise and vibration increase which disturbs passenger rest
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-charging the battery before the engine needs to start, and pre-adjusting climate control settings before the passenger wakes up. This allows the engine to remain off longer without compromising comfort or safety, thereby reducing the frequency of engine start-stop cycles and associated noise and vibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts engine operation strategy based on real-time detection of passenger state. When the passenger is detected to be resting or sleeping, the system modifies engine control parameters to minimize start-stop frequency, thereby reducing noise and vibration during sensitive periods while maintaining fuel efficiency during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the engine is kept running to provide heating during passenger rest, then passenger comfort is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the passenger compartment before the passenger wakes up or before scheduled rest periods end. By pre-heating the cabin using the engine while the passenger is still resting, the system eliminates the need to run the engine immediately upon waking, thereby reducing fuel consumption while maintaining comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous climate control through intelligent coordination of engine operation and thermal management. By keeping the climate system active through optimized engine cycles and thermal retention strategies, the system ensures continuous passenger comfort without requiring constant engine operation, thus reducing overall fuel consumption.
3Reliability
If idle charging is performed frequently to maintain battery state of charge, then battery SOC is optimized, but engine operation increases causing disturbance to resting passengers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary battery charging during periods when the passenger is active or before scheduled rest periods. By charging the battery in advance when engine operation is less disruptive, the system maintains adequate battery state of charge for upcoming rest periods without requiring frequent idle charging cycles that would disturb sleeping passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from passenger state detection (via cameras, sensors, or user input) to dynamically adjust idle charging schedules. When the passenger is detected to be resting or sleeping, the system reduces or suspends idle charging operations. When the passenger is active, the system performs necessary charging, thereby maintaining battery reliability while minimizing disturbance during sensitive periods.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A vehicle control apparatus for a rest in a vehicle and a method thereof are provided. The vehicle control apparatus includes a detector that obtains user information and a processor connected to the detector. The processor determines a user state based on the user information obtained by the detector while a vehicle is traveling. The processor determines whether a rest mode entry condition is satisfied based on the user state. The processor determines an in-vehicle rest mode based on a user input received from a user interface, in response to a determination that the rest mode entry condition is satisfied. The processor performs vehicle control corresponding to the in-vehicle rest mode.