Vehicle State Monitoring Using Engine Frequency Relations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle state monitoring devices face limitations in storage capacity, leading to insufficient storage of information over time due to the need to update data at predetermined intervals, which restricts the ability to retain data for extended periods.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle state monitoring device that stores frequency relations and vehicle speed relations between engine revolutions, fuel-related parameters, and average vehicle speed or altitude at predetermined distances, allowing for reduced data storage while determining engine overheating or deposit accumulation, thereby reducing the amount of information required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If information is stored in the storage device at each predetermined time interval, then the determination accuracy of vehicle state is improved, but the storage capacity is quickly exhausted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetermination accuracyVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the continuous time-series data into discrete frequency distribution data points based on engine revolution ranges and fuel injection rate ranges. Instead of storing all intermediate values, only the frequency occurrences at specific range boundaries are stored, significantly reducing data volume while preserving determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the storage approach from storing raw time-series parameters (revolution, fuel injection rate, temperature, speed) to storing processed frequency distribution parameters. The parameters are aggregated into frequency counts within defined ranges, changing the data representation to reduce storage requirements while maintaining analytical capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If information is held in the storage device without updating, then the storage capacity is preserved, but the information becomes outdated and insufficient for accurate determination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidinformation freshness
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic updating of frequency distribution data based on accumulated engine operation distances (e.g., every 100km). This periodic refresh maintains information freshness and reliability while allowing the system to function efficiently between updates with reduced data storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If detailed time-series data is stored for long periods, then the analysis capability is improved, but the storage device becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis capabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential characteristics from detailed time-series data by calculating frequency distributions within specific engine operating ranges. This extraction process removes redundant intermediate values while retaining the key information needed for overheating cause determination, enabling long-term storage with adequate analysis capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3905207B1Vehicle state monitoring device
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3905207B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3905207B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3905207B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle state monitoring device includes a storage device configured to store information relating to a vehicle traveling under power from an engine (12); a determining device configured to determine a state of the vehicle using the information stored in the storage device; and a storage control device. The storage control device is configured to, each time the vehicle travels a predetermined distance, store a frequency relation as the information in the storage device. The frequency relation is a relation between revolutions of the engine (12), a fuel-related parameter that is a load factor or a fuel injection rate of the engine (12), and a running frequency of the engine (12) at the revolutions and the fuel-related parameter while the vehicle travels the predetermined distance.