Vehicle Stop State Maintenance Engine Control Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with idle-stop, full vehicle speed range inter-vehicle distance control, and vehicle stop maintenance functions can cause driver discomfort due to unclear engine stop conditions, leading to mistaken malfunctions when the inter-vehicle distance control function is activated as an engine stop condition.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that includes an inter-vehicle distance control unit, an engine stop-start unit, and a vehicle stop state maintenance unit, which maintains the engine operation state when the inter-vehicle distance control is set, preventing engine stop unless explicitly activated by the vehicle stop maintenance function, ensuring continuous operation or start based on predefined conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the vehicle stop maintenance function is activated as the engine stop condition when the full vehicle speed range inter-vehicle distance control function is set, then the engine can be stopped to improve fuel economy, but the driver may feel uncomfortable due to unclear engine stop conditions and mistaken malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the engine stop condition judgment based on the operational state of the inter-vehicle distance control function. When this function is active, the system uses vehicle stop maintenance function activation as the engine stop condition; when inactive, it uses brake pedal depression. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing clear, context-appropriate engine stop conditions that maintain driver comfort while enabling fuel economy improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the engine stop condition dynamically adjustable based on the activation state of the inter-vehicle distance control function. The control unit automatically switches between different engine stop conditions (vehicle stop maintenance activation vs. brake pedal depression) depending on which function is currently active, thereby resolving the contradiction between fuel economy and driver comfort through adaptive behavior.
2Extent of automation
If the engine stop condition is changed to vehicle stop maintenance function activation, then the engine stops automatically when the vehicle is stopped by inter-vehicle distance control, but the driver cannot adjust whether the engine stops according to personal preference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different engine stop condition mechanisms for different operational contexts. When inter-vehicle distance control is active, automatic engine stop based on vehicle stop maintenance activation provides high automation. When this function is inactive, brake pedal depression-based engine stop provides driver adjustment capability. This contextual differentiation resolves the contradiction between automation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the engine stop control system to serve multiple functions depending on the active driving assistance function. The same engine stop control unit adapts its behavior based on whether inter-vehicle distance control is active, thereby providing both automatic engine stop (when automation is needed) and manual adjustment capability (when driver control is needed) within a single unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus for a vehicle includes: an inter-vehicle distance control unit that performs an inter-vehicle distance control with respect to a preceding vehicle; an engine stop-start unit that stops the engine when an engine stop condition is satisfied and starts the engine when an engine start condition is satisfied; a vehicle stop state maintenance unit that maintains a braking force for stopping the vehicle; the engine stop-start unit stops the engine, by activation of the vehicle stop state maintenance unit in the case where the vehicle is stopped by the inter-vehicle distance control unit; and an engine operation control unit that, in the case where the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active in the vehicle stop state, maintains the operation state of the engine before the inter-vehicle distance control unit is set to be active.