Vehicle Shift Position Fallback Control During Sensor Recognition Failure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
A motor vehicle cannot be driven when all CPUs fail to recognize the output signal from a shift sensor, leading to a failure in identifying the shift position.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle employs a control device that sets an abnormality-time shift position based on vehicle peripheral information and notifies it, allowing the user to set the moving direction using a separate unit, enabling the vehicle to be driven even when the shift position is unrecognized by resetting the abnormality-time shift position based on the set moving direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses a shift sensor and multiple CPUs to detect shift position, then the system can perform emergency drive when one CPU fails, but the vehicle cannot be driven when all CPUs fail to recognize the shift position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator system that includes: (1) a shift position estimation unit that estimates the shift position based on vehicle peripheral information (camera images, radar data, map information) when the shift sensor fails, and (2) a notification unit that notifies the driver of the estimated shift position. This intermediary estimation mechanism bridges the gap between sensor failure and complete system paralysis, allowing the vehicle to continue operating in emergency mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing alternative shift position determination methods. Before the shift sensor completely fails, the system can switch to using vehicle peripheral information (such as camera detection of gear indicator lights, radar detection of surrounding vehicles, or map-based route analysis) to estimate the shift position. This preliminary preparation of alternative detection methods ensures continuous drivability.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle sets abnormality-time shift position based on vehicle peripheral information, then the vehicle can be driven during CPU failure, but the shift position may not accurately reflect the user's intended shift operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors the estimated shift position and compares it with actual vehicle behavior (acceleration patterns, braking patterns, steering inputs). When discrepancies are detected, the system adjusts the estimated shift position or notifies the driver to verify the actual gear state. This feedback loop improves the accuracy of the estimated shift position over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters based on the estimated shift position. For example, when the estimated shift position indicates reverse gear, the system adjusts the maximum acceleration limit and steering angle limits to match reverse driving characteristics. When estimated to be in drive gear, different parameter sets are applied. This adaptive parameter adjustment ensures safe operation regardless of the accuracy of the estimated shift position.
Data Source
AI summary
The motor vehicle is configured to recognize a shift position in response to the user's shift operation of a shift lever and to control a driving system, based on the shift position and the user's accelerator operation, brake operation and steering operation. On occurrence of a predetermined abnormality that causes a failure in recognizing the shift position, the motor vehicle sets an abnormality-time shift position based on vehicle peripheral information and notifies the abnormality-time shift position. When a moving direction is set by a moving direction setting unit that is provided separately from the shift lever and that allows the user to set the moving direction, the motor vehicle resets the abnormality-time shift position based on the moving direction, and controls the driving system, based on the abnormality-time shift position, the brake operation and the steering operation.